2016 Clunky Manual Transmission

Anybody else out there have a '16 with a manual that is not what you would call "the smoothest shifting transmission ever"? I know it's a truck but I've driven a lot of Hilux Toyotas overseas (mostly Bagram and Kandahar) that shift real smooth and I'm surprised at how not smooth my '16 is. I bought it new (had to order it) in March 2016 and haven't really noticed any change over the past 2.5 years, just kind of progressively more annoyed as time goes by in the 1st to 2nd shift and sometimes the 2nd to third. I usually wait until about 4000 rpm to shift from first to second and second to third if conditions allow. Seems like the more you rev it the better. Not the biggest problem in the world but noticeable enough and feels like it shouldn't be the way that it is. Any other people have any similar issues/feelings with their manual '16?

 

My 2017 has always been a little "clunky" from 2nd to 3rd. I'm at close to 25k and it seems like it has got a little better with age. I plan to change the gear oil in the trans sometime and see if that makes a difference. 2.7 5 spd.

 

You will probably find it's not the transmission so much as the crappy ECU calibration. I had trouble getting smooth shifts until I realized the engine / throttle didn't act they way most people would expect. I also noticed it shifted better if I shifted at higher RPMs. I got the OVTune originally, now I'm currently running the latest Toyota update (04B13) and have found it easy to make smooth shifts now that acceleration is smoothed out. Mine used to really surge in power at about 3500 RPM so if I shifted anywhere near there it was really rough to get a smooth shift. Since yours in a early 2016 model it's likely your on ECU calibration 04B10, which you will see is generally considered the worst. At this point I'd highly recommend trying the Toyota update first.

Links for more info:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/software-update-for-the-manual.562550/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...anual-transmission-engine-ecu-reflash.515734/

 

I'm not sure how many miles you put on over those 2.5 years, but I agree with the tranny getting better with age. In fact, I was just thinking about that yesterday, since I hadn't griped about the second to third gear grind in a long time.

The first 4000 miles kind of sucked.
Switching to my usual Redline MT90 at 2000 miles didn't seem to help initially.
By 6000 miles things seemed to have smoothed out.
Now I'm at 9000 miles and I don't really have any issues with grinding anymore.

Maybe I got used to it. Maybe the MT90 finally helped. Maybe the OV tune helped. Or maybe the tranny finally broke in.

 

OP this is your answer. get the Toyota update before considering the OV tune since it may not be necessary.

 

Get the new Toyota update and change your fluids. Makes a world of difference.

 

Is the new update worth it?

 

Yes. Zero negatives.